If the holidays are your favorite time of the year

If you’re a mental health advocate

If you live and breathe Columbia

The outdoorsy types

• Gamecocks Women’s Basketball vs. South Dakota State Jackrabbits | Monday, Nov. 20 | 7 p.m. | Colonial Life Arena, 801 Lincoln St., Columbia | $25-$35 | Watch the women’s basketball team take on the Jackrabbits inside of Colonial Life Arena.

• Thanksgiving Preorders at Good Life Cafe | Tuesday, Nov. 21 | 9 a.m.-7 p.m. | Good Life Cafe, 1216 Taylor St., Columbia | Starting at $19 per person | Treat yourself to hummus, dessert delights, and complete Thanksgiving Orders at $19 per person.
• Oyster Series | Tuesday, Nov. 21 | 6:30-8 p.m. | Smoked, 1643 Main St., Columbia | $60 | Learn to appreciate oysters like a fine wine by discovering the nuance of flavor by the climate of origin, taste, texture, and salinity.

• Holiday Lights on the River | Wednesday, Nov. 22-Sunday, Dec. 31 | 6-10 p.m. | 6071 St. Andrews Rd., Columbia | $25-$75 | Journey through more than two miles of lights featuring colorful, animated light displays of all shapes and sizes.

• Black Friday Flea | Friday, Nov. 24 | 6-9 p.m. | NoMa Warehouse, 2222 Sumter St., Columbia | Free | It’s like a regular NoMa Flea but with holiday deals, decorations, and visits with Santa.

• Gamecock Football vs. Clemson Tigers | Saturday, Nov. 25 | 7:30 p.m. | Williams-Brice Stadium, 1125 George Rogers Blvd., Columbia | $115-$175 | The Palmetto Bowl is back — root for the Gamecocks as they take on their in-state rivals, the Clemson Tigers.
• Bierkeller Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas Market) | Saturday, Nov. 25-Sunday, Dec. 17 | Times vary | Bierkeller Columbia, 600 Canalside St., Columbia | Free | Delight in the charm of a traditional German Christmas market along the Congaree River.

For the family

• Visits with Santa daily through Dec. 23 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
• Mason Mondays: Mason the mascot will be available for pictures
• Tuesday Ugly Sweater Parties: Break out your best ugly holiday sweater and receive a voucher for one free hot chocolate
• Kids 12 and under will get a voucher for a free hot dog and a drink upon entry — only available on Sundays

For the adults

• Check out the Vendor Village to shop for holiday gifts
• Thirsty Thursdays: Enjoy $1 fountain sodas, $1 hot chocolate, $2 domestic draft beer, $3 craft draft beer, and $3 house cocktails

For your furry friends

• Winter Wag-Along Wednesdays: Bring your four-legged friend to see the lights on Wednesday nights

• Scout Motors Inc. has opened its first SC office in the BullStreet District until the construction of the new production center in Blythewood. The office is located in BullStreet’s First Base Building and aims to open a public showroom to share more about its operations. (Cola Daily)

• 3. That’s the number of regional filmmakers who have been selected for the 2023-24 INDIE GRANTS program by the SC Film Commission. The chosen projects include “The Off-Brands” from Columbia, “Lazzo” from North Charleston, and “Clonely” from Greenville.

• The FBI’s new 87,000-sqft field office has officially opened in Lexington after a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The facility is expected to facilitate better communication among agents and support staff, streamlining operations for increased efficiency. (WIS TV)

• Coach Dawn Staley, the head of USC’s women’s basketball and an Olympic gold medalist, will receive the 2023 Global Vision Award from the Columbia World Affairs Council, recognizing her contributions to projecting SC globally, achievements in basketball, and leadership at USC.

• Columbia’s Design/Development Review Commission approved the design for a new, non-student-focused 250-unit apartment complex potentially coming to The Vista. Developers will consider public input as they finalize the design before moving to the construction phase. (WLTX)

• Camille Griffin Graham Correctional in Columbia is set to implement a $1.2 million project to grow lettuce in modified shipping containers, a hydroponic farming method. The initiative aims to reduce prison cafeteria costs and equip inmates with farming skills for post-release job opportunities. (SC Daily Gazette)

• $22.3 billion. That’s the economic impact of South Carolina Ports in the Midlands. SC Ports is keeping freight moving across the state, attracting companies to invest in new facilities and expanded operations that create jobs + opportunities in our region for generations to come. Here’s how.*

• Text message scams are on the rise. The best way to protect yourself and your finances: knowing what to watch out for. Check out these ways to spot a text message scam.*

• Did you know? Greenville, SC is a pet-friendly haven for travelers. Plan the paw-fect trip with these dog-friendly experiences.*

Which vacant spaces would you like to see converted?